This Plane Is Parked At An Airport, But Not For Why You’d Think

Airplanes are parked at airports for many reasons. The main one is to wait for the next flight, which might be overnight or a day or two away. A plane could also be damaged and waiting for parts or a repair crew. Sometimes there’s a bigger story behind a plane sitting at an airport for months or even years.

Orlando Airport has a plane parked at the airport and it has a fascinating back story.

For those who don’t know, Orlando International Airport used to be McCoy AFB. That’s where the airport’s MCO abbreviation comes from. McCoy AFB was the home of the 306th Bomb Wing and the B52D Stratofortress.

In 1982, the plane’s final flight was from Texas to Orlando.

It now resides as the centerpiece of a park located at the edge of Orlando Airport property. I guarantee you that almost no one from Orlando knows it’s there.

The park is located at the end of a road that hugs the end of the runway. There’s no sign on how to get there. The easiest way to find it is to look for the lot where the ride-share drivers wait for passengers.

When I had to pick Sharon up from the airport last year, I went early to try and find the park and check out Orlando’s resident B52.

Locked. Apparently, the airport authority has a different idea about when sunset happens, as I thought it was when the sun went down. I was able to walk around the fence and get some pictures but I didn’t get to take a look up close.

Even from a distance away, it’s an impressive sight.

The park is free and open to the public. There are even some benches around if you’d like to sit outside.

I’d bet that I was the only one to visit that day. Maybe even that week. Regardless of how many people visit, the Orlando Airport Authority does a great job of preserving and honoring the aircraft and all of those who worked on her over an almost 30-year career.

This Facebook page provides a map to the park.

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